Spring hobbyhorse



March l, 1949. w, c, HANDLEY 2,463,268

SPRING HOBBYHORSE Filed Oct. 1, 1945 INVENTOR.

Patented Mar. 1, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPRING HOBBYHORSE.

William C. Handley, Chicago, Ill.

Application October 1, 19-45, Serial No. 619,628

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an improved toy in the nature of a hobbyhorse.More specifically, it relates to an improved method for anchoring theprincipal spring member of a spring hobbyhorse.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a toy device of thetype herein described having an almost indefinite life by reason of theelimination of a method of mounting the principal leaf spring which hasheretofore resulted in the weakening and eventual fracture of the springat the mounting point. The fastening structure disclosed provides a firmassembly which does not weaken the spring structure appreciably at anypoint and does not impair the strength of the principal spring to anydegree whatever.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toy assembly of thetype herein described having improved operating characteristics andtherefore capable of furnishing a greater degree of enjoyment to theuser. A still further object is to provide a simple and economical toydevice.

In the accompanying drawing,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the spring hobbyhorse embodying theimproved construction;

Fig. 2 is a partial section taken at the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and showingthe details of the principal spring anchorage; and

Fig. 3 is a detailed sectional view taken at the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a base for the hobbyhorsecomprises two cross arms I and 2, generally formed from wood, and aconnecting member 3. Cross members and 2 are rabbeted to receive theends of connecting member 3 and this member and the rear cross arm 2 arerigidly fastened together by means of a bolt 4. For reasons explained ingreater detail below, connecting member 3 is preferably fabricated fromspring steel stock.

The principal spring member 5 is roughly U- shaped and is composed of asuitable spring steel material, such as silicomanganese steel. The lowerand shorter leg overlaps base connecting member 3 and is fastenedthereto by means of a bolt 6. A U-bolt 1 serves to anchor leaf spring 5to front cross arm I Together with pin 8 which extends through a hole 9in the forward end of connecting member 3, U-bolt I also serves tofasten connecting member 3 to front arm I. As shown in greater detail inFig. 3, the bottom surface of the rabbet cut in cross arm I is roundedto permit a limited rocking action of base connecting member 3 as thelatter flexes.

A suitable seat H3 is mounted upon the upper leg of leaf spring 5 at itsend, as shown in Fig. 1, and a suitable standard II in the form of ahorses head may be fastened to seat Ill and a handle l2 may be carriedby the standard. A foot rest I3 is furnished by suitably formed metalpieces clamped to spring 5 by means of a bolt I4.

To operate the device thus described, the child sits upon seat Ill,places his feet upon the foot rest I3, grasps handle I2, and proceeds toride up and down over gradually increasing distances as the manipulationof his body, timed to the natural oscillatory period of the springsystem, alternately stores energy in the spring system and permits theexpenditure thereof in the return upward movement. In View of this modeof operation, it will be apparent that unless the flexing of the springmember is destributed throughout a substantial portion of the entirelength of the spring system, fracture of the spring would result in arelatively short time due to fatigue of the metal. In hobbyhorses ofthis type heretofore available, the principal spring member was fastenedto the front cross arm by means of a single bolt which passed through ahole punched or drilled through the spring member itself. Removal ofthis metal, together with distortion of the metal immediatelysurrounding the hole, resulted in the weakening of the spring at thiscritical point and failure with possible injury to the child frequentlyresulted. The full strength of the spring member is preserved unimpairedby use of the anchorage construction herein described. Also, the entirespring system, beginning at the seat I0 and continuing to the end ofconnecting member 3 at cross arm 2, flexes as the seat is depressed.Thus, the spring load is well distributed throughout the length of auniformly strong spring system.

While the provision for limited rocking action of the leaf springs uponcross arm I, as described, is desirable, it is not indispensible tosatisfactory operation of the device. Since the cross arms I and 2 arenot connected except by the flexible spring member 3, both of these armsmove with the flexing of the spring, but it will be apparent that suchmovement is not entirely unhampered and is undesirable because of theaccompanying rubbing action of the under surfaces of the cross armsagainst the floor which may mar the finish or, if placed upon a rug, theaction may wear a hole in the floor covering. Also, it will beunderstood that the bottom surface of the rabbet in cross arm 2 may becurved and a U-bolt and pin used to fasten the parts together in amanner similar to that described in connection with the anchorage atcross arm I. Further, the rabbeting of the cross arms may be dispensedwith, the spring strips being mounted upon the normal upper surface ofthe cross arms which, preferably, may be rounded to permit the rockingmovement.

It will be apparent that a single unitary leaf spring may be employed inplace of the composite member consisting of spring 5 and connectingelement 3. Also, although connecting member 3 is preferably composed ofa flexible material so that a portion of the spring strain is carried bythis member, this member may be of rigid construction and the leafSpring 5 relied upon to carry the full load.

I claim:

1. In a spring hobbyhorse, a rear base cross arm and a front base crossarm, a connecting member extending between said cross arms and havingthe rear extremity thereof fastened to said rear cross arm, a pinprojecting upwardly from said front cross arm and extendingsubstantially through the front extremity of said connecting member, aleaf spring engaging a portion of said connecting member and extendingforwardly therefrom and carried upwardly and back over said connectingmember, and means for supporting said leaf spring, said means comprisingmeans for positively fastening the extremity of said leaf spring to saidconnect.- ing member and a U-bolt straddling said leaf spring a shortdistance from the -.eXtre.mity thereof and straddling said connectingmember and passing downwardly through said front cross arm and clampingsaid spring and said connecting member thereto.

2. In a spring hobbyhorse, spaced cross arms adapted to rest upon asupporting surface, a U-shaped leaf spring system arranged in a vertical plane with one leg thereof below the other leg and disposed uponsaid cross arms, the surface of the cross arm nearest the bend of :saidspring system engaging said spring System being rounded to permit saidspring system to rock upon the cross arm as the spring system is flexed,and a U-bolt clamping the lower leg of said spring system to the roundedsurface of the cross arm.

3. In a spring hobbyhorse, a front and a rear base, cross arm, a leafspring connecting member extending between said cross arms, the rearwardextremity of said connecting member being fastened to the rear crossarm, a pin extending upwardly from the front cross arm substantiallythrough the thickness of said connecting member at the frontwardextremity thereof, the surface of said front cross arm engaging saidconnecting member being rounded to permit said connecting member to rockupon the front cross arm as the connectin member is flexed, aretrofiected leaf spring arranged in vertical position and having oneleg below the other leg and engaging said connecting member, and meansfor anchoring the lower leg to said connecting member and front crossarm, said means comprising means for fastening the extremity of saidlower leg to said connecting member at a point between said cross armsand a U-bolt straddling said lower leg and said connecting member andpassing downwardly through said front cross arm.

4,. In a spring hobbyhorse, :a front and a rear base cross arm, a leafspring connecting member extending between said cross arms, the rearwardextremity of said connecting member being fastened to the rear crossarm, a pin extending upwardly from the front across arm substantiallythrough the thickness of said connecting member at the forward extremitythereof, a netroflected leaf spring arranged in vertical position andhaving one leg below the other leg and engaging said connecting member,and means for anchorn the lower leg t said onnectin membe and fr n roarm. a means compri n means for fastening the extremity cf said lowerleg to said connecting member at a point between said cross arms, and aU-bolt straddlin said lower leg and said connecting member and passinguownardly through said front cross arm- WILLIAM 'C.

REFERENCES CITED The following references, are of rec'ordgi'n the fileof this patent:

UNITED STATES Number Name Date 1,624,986 Sherrod Apr. 1119, 19. 71,668,190 cattellin et a1. May '1, 1928

